The Funny WEATHER on Gough Island.

What away to start your morning shift. We woke-up to strong winds and Rain and Drizzle conditions.
This was not Forecast for the morning period of the day. But this is the time, Weather Observers really like about their duty is the weather events on offer.

The Edinburgh fishing vessel is still trying to continued with cray fishing in this conditions. Very bumpy drive out there to them. The sea conditions at 12:00, SWELL-Directions: 220degrees, Period: 06 minutes, Height: 12 (6 meters). I rather enjoy time in base. Due to Swells, I was having no luck in recording the Sea Temperature.

The winds are really strong today. Recording 1300UTC 27024G41KT.

Here is the expecting weather conditions for today.
Wed 24/02/2016:

Synopsis : A weak cold front approaches the island from the west.

Wind     : W to SW 15 to 25.

Wx       : Partly cloudy with light rain in the evening.

0600 UTC Shipping Chart.

Rain and Drizzle earlier this morning.

Visibility over the sea was bad and also the Swells is visible.

Lenticular clouds, technically known as alto cumulus standing lenticularis, are ... over rough terrain and are sometimes described as a "stack of pancakes." ...

Very nice.

This clouds was observe just before I launch the afternoon Radio Sonde ascent.

Plotting of data received by Radio Sonde.

Fisherman in small boat.

Our Worked here on Gough Island as Meteorologist.

This is the only operational weather station in this part of the South Atlantic Ocean. We conduct weather observations from 06:00 to 15:00 and evening readings available three hourly. 18:00, 21:00, 0000, and 0300, all is UTC time. The station is S40"20'56 and W09"52'49. Once per day the Sea temperature is mature at 11:15 and will be available on our 12:00 Synopses. Sea conditions are also observe before main synopsis daily. This include SWELL, Wind Waves.

We also conduct two Balloon ascents. 12:00 and 00:00UTC.

Radio Sonde

Balloon fill with Hydrogen

Data usage: All data are send to Cape Town Weather Office, where it will be available all over the world.
The Met.data that we collect here are useful on a day-to-day basis for weather forecasters serving the needs of farmers and others in South Africa, as well as for Shipping in the South Atlantic. 

Our data is also useful to climatologists and other scientists who are studying global climates, and how these are changing as a result of human actions increasing the amount of CO2 and other "greenhouse gases" in the earth's atmosphere.

Long runs of screened surface air temperatures, such as what we record on Gough Island every hour of the day and night, are particularly useful. This is because there are no 'heat islands' or other effects on the atmosphere here from local human activities, such as occur in and around cities and at airports.   

This monitoring started in 1955, when the weather station was established in The Glen.

Old foundation at The Glen.

Weather station at Transvaal Bay.

Stevenson Screen, Automatic and manual Rain gauge.

Wind sensor.

Wind sensor and Stevenson Screen.

Wind Sensor and flags.

Joe recording rainfall and prepare for observation. At 06:00

R.M. Young windsensor.

Weather Station

Weather Station

Joe getting ready to record Sea Temperature and observe Sea Conditions.

Gough Island Map.

Aerial view of the Island.

Gough Adventure Weekend.

Hope all is well.

We have some visitors from Tristan DA Gunha our neighboring Island.
We was spoil with fresh cray fish as well as a boat trip around the Island.  There is some nice pics to see the Island so close. We really are very humble for the opportunity's. There was also time to assist with Arctic Fur seal pup weighting.

Weather was really nice over the weekend.

Today was a different story. There was morning rain and drizzle with fog for early morning.
Mon 22/02/2016:

Synopsis : The cold front passes over the island but moves very slowly

           eastwards.

Wind     : NW 15 to 25 at first, otherwise W to SW 10 to 20.   

Wx       : Cloudy with showers and rain, clearing in the evening.

Shipping Chart at 0600UTC

Monday: Rain

Joe in the rain during observation

Fog moving in from the mountains

Weekend adventure

Round Island trip in speed boat.

We was lucky to see the fisherman at work.

Another day of exploring the Island

Getting down the rope to the  Tumbledown beach.

Fur Seal weighting at Tumbledown Beach.

Island out of the boat.

Weighting team: L to R: Chris, Derren(Birders), Scelo(Diesel Tech), Joe( Meteorologist) and Jan(Birder)

Weighting team: L to R: Chris, Derren(Birders), Scelo(Diesel Tech), Joe( Meteorologist) and Jan(Birder)

Almost down.

Not so far anymore.

My guide Jan.

Game Over, I made it.

Waiting for the catchers.

Close up with a pup.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weather on Gough

The few days was really enjoyable on the Island. We have had good rain on the 16th and measure 34.2mm of rain.  The following days was more clear weather and there was sunshine as well. But southerly winds keep the temperatures very low. It was heater night, cold evenings.

This was the weather for today:
Thu 18/02/2016:
Synopsis : A surface high pressure system dominates over the Island.
Wind     : Variable 05 to 10.
Wx       : Partly cloudy.

1800 UTC Shipping Chart

This morning picture from my room.

 The base entrants.

 Weather station.

 South African and Tristan da Gunha flags.

Nice Towering Cumulus clouds and and rain.

Storm moving away from base.

 Rain over the South Atlantic Ocean.

 Storm tracking.

Tristan da Gunha Flag. Notice how the wind is blowing from the east.

Here is your shipping chart for today. 1200UTC